NFL Q&A

Q: How much does winning the season's opening game mean in terms of reaching the postseason?

A: A lot. Since the 16-game schedule began in 1978 (and excluding the strike-shortened 1982 season), 176 of 330 teams that won openers went to the playoffs while only 76 of the 330 losers made it.

Q: Why is the Bears season headed down?

A: They're playing their home games in Champaign-Urbana, home to the University of Illinois 138 miles south of Chicago, while Soldier Field is being renovated.

Q: Which team has the best opening-day winning percentage?

A: The Jaguars, 6-1 (.857). Okay, excluding the Jags and Panthers (seven games) and Ravens (six), it's the Cowboys, 30-11-1 (.732). The two teams with the most opening-game wins are Da Bears and Giants (39).

Q: How many running backs have opened the season with a game of 200-plus yards?

A: Seattle. It was placed in the NFC West in its inaugural season (1976) when the Bucs were an AFC West team. The Seahawks were switched to the AFC West in 1977, remaining there until this season, when they were moved back to the NFC West.

Q: What do the Packers, Dolphins, Steelers, 49ers, Cowboys and Broncos have in common?

A: They're the only teams to win successive Super Bowls.

Q: John Madden is the 14th Monday Night Football broadcaster. Can you name the 13 others?

Q: Tony Dungy (Bucs to Colts), Jon Gruden (Raiders to Bucs) and Marty Schottenheimer (Redskins to Chargers) are the most recent coaches to switch conferences in consecutive seasons. Of the other 12 to have made the switch since 1970, how many made the playoffs with their new team?

A: Dec. 18, 1932, in Chicago Stadium, when a blizzard forced the NFL to move it from Wrigley Field. The Portsmouth Spartans (renamed the Detroit Lions in 1934) and the Bears finished the season tied for first (there were no divisions then) after playing to a tie twice during the season, forcing the playoff to decide the championship. Chicago won 9-0.